Over the next two weeks, Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago will be holding various exercises that can involve sirens, closing of the main gate and responses by area emergency personnel.

Over the next two weeks, Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago will be holding various exercises that can involve sirens, closing of the main gate and responses by area emergency personnel. (Frank Abderholden / News-Sun)

Over the next two weeks, Naval Station Great Lakes will be joining other naval installations across the country in an operation called Exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain which will feature force-protection drills.

"This is an annual exercise that started in 2007 and is not a reaction to anything," said John Sheppard, Great Lakes public affairs spokesman.

Officials at the North Chicago facility said during the exercise, the public might hear sirens or see local police or fire personnel respond to the base.

The exercise is a two-part operation and was described as a "linked anti-terrorism force protection exercise" in a statement announcing some of the plans involved, which included notifying the media that in case of a real emergency, an information site would be located at the Willow Glen Golf Course in North Chicago.

Capt. Jim Hawkins, commanding officer for Naval Station Great Lakes, said an important part of the exercise is working with local emergency officials in North Chicago, Lake Bluff and the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

"We have a very good working relationship," Hawkins said.

According to Sheppard, Great Lakes officials are working to minimize disruptions within local communities and to normal base operations, but there might be times when the exercise causes increased traffic around bases or delays in base access.

"You could hear sirens, or the main gate may be closed," he said. "People on the base know what to do when they hear sirens."

Sheppard added that "a main conduit of information" will be the base Twitter account: @navstaglakes or twitter.com/navstaglakes.